Thursday, October 11, 2012

Time for Friday's 100 word response to a photo posted by Madison Woods (http://madison-woods.com) along with others all over the world. I always appreciate any input to make the writing better along with reactions to the content. Cheers, Lorelei

Whitewash

No teenagers live here, so my chances of selling off the whitewash opportunity are nil. This whole wall has to be done by tonight, Nico said. I wanted to go to school today too. We were going to see a movie about pirates but of course, he has to have the back of the inn whitewashed. And for whom? Who will ever see it in this narrow street back here, except for old Stefanos and his donkey picking up the trash barrels? Of course, his daughter Maria sometimes comes along. Okay, I'm getting to work. But first, let's see how I can make my hair come to a point.

Monday, October 8, 2012

I have always been fascinated with the harvest moon, especially with how big it looks. I know we're supposed to think the huge size is an optical illusion nowadays, but I must say I am not really convinced that some trick of resonance with golden pumpkins and ripe corn doesn't inflate its image as seen by earthlings during harvest season. Or warm air cooling, or something.

Every year, I feel a pull from that moon, a need to go outside and look at its shape and whatever I can see of its mottled surface. I love its yellower-than-usual color and how it seems to hang right over the tops of the trees, brushing them with bright moonlight. I'm sorry to say Halloween was not a favorite holiday when I was a kid, being too closely associated with Twilight Zone and similar fantasies, but the moon made the season worthwhile. I kept sketches of its shape every night during October most years.

Today, it's hard to remember there IS a moon, we are so insulated. But moonlight sneaks around the curtains and stripes the blue bedroom rug, and I have to go and look. Is it round? Gibbous? Waxing or waning? When does it rise and set each night? You do realize (or maybe not) that rising/setting times change a lot each day? If you're not a moon-watcher, give it a try this season. It will pull you in.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Hi readers and writers,
Time for a new 100-word fiction piece inspired by www.madison-woods.com #FridayFictioneers challenges. This week's photo is by Raina Ng. If you go to Madison's website, you can join in...it's fun to write these and even more fun to see all the different responses to the same image.

I would love any input readers have for me on how to make this snippet better, as well as (of course!) any comments of enjoyment.

Shadowed Kitchen

Here I sat every day in the sweet-smelling shadows after school, after the bus dropped me off. The smell of the cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon from the jars on the wall always made me daydream of food while I solved the math problems or English analogies. In those days, every teacher gave us 25 short answer items a night. Their mantra was "homework works." In today's world, Adam only learns from the focus of his attention: his computer. He almost doesn't even watch television any more.

Welcome

Welcome to Laura L Mays Hoopes’ literary blog. I interview authors about their new books, comment on writing, comment on reading, discuss literature in general, and blog about the natural world. Please join the conversation.